Reviews (13)

Taj Scores Again!
I am constantly amazed at the breadth of Taj Mahal's musical talent. With "Senor Blues" he scores once again. It's all here: blues, jazz, rock, soul, and even country; all performed with alacrity by the versatile Mahal. My favorites are the hilarious "You Rascal You", the equally funny "Mind Your Own Business" and the jazz classic "Senor Blues".I've always heard the last as an instrumental, and a good one at that. I never knew the title cut had lyrics which are so banal as to be comical. Here is a song just begging to be parodied!There is not a bad song on the album and it is highly recommended to be given an honored place in any music lover's collection.

Been waitin' on this one a while...worth every second...
After reading Larry Fulcher's Spotlight Review, I hesitated - I mean, what am I gonna add to THAT? Well, let me say that I've written close to 110 music reviews and all but one(and Otis is long since gone..)have been Jazz reviews. So this CD is really the first non-jazz review. I don't think I could have picked a better one to begin with. "Senor Blues" (written by Horace Silver...so there is a segue, after all), the CD, is a brilliant statement, both musically and lyrically. It ALMOST usurps "The Real Thing" as my favorite Taj of all time (I'm into Live...) From the first finger-pickin' honey drippin' from "Queen Bee", to the unbelievably tight and minor mellow, but tough title track (the organ, and the trumpet work, is stunning), to the gospel-drenched indictment of our brave new world, "Things Gettin' Crazy Up In Here", to the gem - the gorgeous "21st Century Gypsy..." (check out the drum fill as it's fading out), to the Otis tribute (HEY! another segue..)"Mr. Pitiful", well let's just say it's the tightest, most soulful, personal statement from this Master in a while. If you've been waiting to get a Taj CD, don't. GET THIS ONE.

Absolutely Astounding
I had always been a fan of Taj's earlier recordings. I didn't get into this until I saw him in concert and he played "Queen Bee" (which inspired me to seek out this album). What an absolute gem. Quite possibly his greatest album. Every song on here is absolutely scorching, and such a wide variety of genres are represented. If this album doesn't move you, there's something quite wrong. Any fan of the blues or jazz, or just music in general should have this album.

Great Album
This is the first Taj disc I was exposed to. It is very well done including a cover of James Brown (Think), along with some original compositions. Basically there is good reason Taj has won several grammys of late, and if you get into his music you'll immediately understand. The title track and 21rst Century Gypsy Singin' Lover Man stand out on this set. Queen Bee is also a great song that opens the set, and my wife likes very well. Warning, once you discover this artist, you will find yourself digging deeper and deeper craving more. Not the worst thing that could happen to you, Check it Out!!

Not Just Because I Played On It
Having spent 39 of my 54 years as a working musician, I have spent a good portion of my time listening to and performing music. THIS IS ONE OF MY TOP 5 FAVORITE RECORDS OF ALL TIME!
It was joy to record, from the first note to the last, a joy to listen to in the studio booth as we listened to playbacks, and a thrill to hear as a finished product.
The tunes, even the ones that didn't make the finished CD, were a blast to play with the guys in the band. The combination of Taj's voice and the musicality of the Phantom Blues Band blended in the creation of a musical masterpiece.
Now, 5 years after recording it, I still listen to it regularly (which is rare for musicians, too self-critical), and I love it more and more all the time.
We really didn't know how the public or Taj's fans would react to it, it was simply where we were at musically and emotionally and spiritually at the time. But, we recorded it with love and passion and the public response was great. NO GUEST ARTISTS! Just Taj Mahal and The Phantom Blues Band and John Porter producing. 1998 GRAMMY AWARD WINNER.
Personally, it's up there with "Kind of Blue"-Miles Davis, "A Love Supreme"-John Coltrane, Robert Johnson's "Complete Anthology", and Bob Marley's "Survival".
PEACE & ENJOY
Larry Fulcher - bassist
Taj Mahal & The Phantom Blues Band ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Awesome, but Wed & Thurs in SF even better!!!!
Albert is THE master!! This CD is truly powerful guitar playing and great vocals! A must for ALL Blues and rock fans.
As great as Live Wire / Blues Power is, it is very misleading to say that these were the best songs of the live SF shows. ALL songs were great, and the "leftovers" that were placed on the Wednesday night in San Francisco and Thursday night in San Francisco were just as good. All three CD's form the greatest collection of the sweetest guitar playing ever!!!! He was the TRUE master. It's amazing how few paople know about this secret pearl of music.

One Of The Great Live Blues Albums!
Legendary blues guitarist Albert King really hits his stride on this CD (originally released in 1969). Worth it just to hear the uptempo classic "Night Stomp". Arguably, this is King's best album. All the tracks are great, and this is one disc that really sticks-to-your-ribs, and one that you will go back and play again and again! A great disc for budding blues guitarists to listen to... you'll be hard-pressed to find a better teacher (with the possible exception of Freddie King). Regardless, this disc is a must for both blues and rock fans alike. Well worth the price.

king of the flying v's and more....
This is a seminal album....one of the finest live concert recordings ever, irrespective of genre. I saw King Albert twice at the Fillmore East in the old days [this one was recorded at Fillmore West], and this CD [or my old vinyl LP for that matter] captures him in all his live glory. Albert was a consummate professional who hadn't played large venues for the most part in his career when Bill Graham tapped him for the Fillmores, and he succeeded in pleasing [no, knocking out!!] audiences and turning them on to the blues....if you're counting your coins and wondering which next blues CD purchase will best serve your budget [or even if you're made of money and don't care either way but love the blues] - BUY THIS ONE!!!

Albert King's Most Influential Live Album!
Well the Blues is meant to be played live. It was never a genre for three minute radio songs. When Albert king signed at Stax he produced several hit singles beginning with "Laundromat Blues" and going on from there. This was his first live album- ever. He produced three recordings from it, this one and "Wednesday and Thursday Night in San Francisco". The latter two were not released until 1990 when the Stax label was ressurrected under the Fantasy organization. Albert plays a host of new material and reworkings for this LP. It was his first outing at the Fillmore where he was the headliner. He woos the young audience and introduces them to what the blues is all about. He opens the set with Herbie Hancock's "Watermelon Man", a tune he used for about a dozen years after this as his opening with his line "take off your shoes and slip them under the seat". He goes into the title track "Blues Power" from here. This a Talking Blues, a type that Albert excelled at. B.B. and Freddie never did any talking blues, Albert loved to talk! It is interesting that this type of blues originated in Appallacia with white players in the 1920s. Albert is the all time virtuoso of the talking blues witness "Matchbox", "Cold Feet" and others. This ten minute outing contains a comprehensive overview of his guitar style. It is very excellent and the tone of his guitar is fabulous. It of course has his signature stop break he first recorded at Chess in 1961 with "Won't Be Hangin Round". SRV used it in Texas Flood (Live)! This song has a lot of jargon that places Albert as an older player with a young audience, such as "Soda Fountain" and "Guys and Gals"..however, it's over their heads, they were into his guitar. The title "Blues Power" is of course the catch phrase of the sixties various "Powers" (Austen Powers!!) and like "Born Under A Bad Sign" (Age of Aquarius!!)these attempts at contemporizing the blues were lost in the fabulous guitar work outs. No one cared about the lyrics or content only the sound.

Albert does a reworking of his first minor hit with King Records "Blues At Sunrise" with a small amount of Hendrix type feedback (he'd been doing this for a long time) and it's a great slow blues offering. He also does the closest thing to a slide riff he'd ever done with B.B. King's "Please Love Me". "Night Stomp" is an interesting reversal of the famous 9th chord runs he did in Overall Junction. He wrote this tune with the album's producer Al Jackson, Jr, the famous drummer of the MG's. He also wrote "Cold Feet" the talking blues, with Albert! The album closes with "Look Out" which was of course "Overall Junction" redone. This is interesting with the strange almost Buddy Guy bends he produced- it's different from anything he ever recorded.
This is a classic recording. It was at a time when the blues revival of the sixties was waning and Jimi Hendrix (who played with Albert) had taken the blues to a new level of blues-rock. Albert became accepted as an innovator of modern urban blues with his soulful recordings for Stax records. However, live he always played traditional blues and often his set included tunes from the 1940s (check out the other two albums e.g."Driftin Blues"). I saw him in 1990 and his set included "Stormy Monday" and "Move To The Outskirts of Town". Get all three of these CDs, they are an historic record of the blues influence on music of the 1960s.

Forget SRV? I dont think so.
I agree with all the positives about Albert King, he certainly is CLASS. I do disagree with the person who said "forget SRV" yeah right! He was CLASS too, wasn't he?? ... Read more

Reviews (14)

Simmering, sizzling, smoking, & burning
Twice I have seen Ronnie Earl & The Broadcasters live in small clubs, within flicking distance of his beads of sweat. After the first time, I walked out of the club shaking my head, mumbling, "Why isn't this guy famous?" I still don't know the answer, but hopefully this disc will continue to help him along in that direction. If you hear Ronnie talk in person, you can't help but get the impression that he is the most humble and sincere guitar wizard out there.

Blues Guitar Virtuoso Live In Europe does an excellent job of representing Ronnie and the gang's live act, simmering, sizzling, smoking, and burning their way through a set of mostly original compositions. Bruce Katz's B3 organ is the perfect counterpoint to Ronnie's stellar picking, most notably on the cover of Bobby Timmons' classic "Moanin'." and Earl's own "Serezen".

While it's a fantastic performance overall, the recording is not without flaws. First, the audio volume level varies from track to track, such that if the playback volume is adjusted for the louder tracks, you'll strain to hear the quieter ones. So I end up ping-ponging back and forth on the volume. Second, during the quieter passages, an annoying electronic hum is audible. I believe this is coming from Ronnie's guitar amp. (The same hum is also audible in a couple of tracks on his studio album Still River.) And lastly, clocking in at nearly 15 minutes, the closing track "Rego Park Blues" is too long and ambling for my listening pleasure away from the concert environment.

I would give this one four and half stars if I could, but since the review system won't let me, I'm giving it the benefit of the doubt and bumping it up to five. Keep the faith, Ronnie!

Stunning recording!
I don't think that Mr. Ronnie Earl needs any kind of introduction to any serious blues fan. He is one of the best (if not the best from my point of view) living "white" blues guitarists around. His amazing technique and the mastery with which he is able to build up a guitar solo from a quite start to the maximum of its intensity are second to none. I sow him playing several time and this live performance recorded in Europe is a very good example of what he is effortless able to do live on stage. Baked by his regular band Ronnie is in a dazzling shape and his performance is sublime throughout the entire concert. The rhythm section is solid and precise as usual and Bruce Kats does a marvellous job with his B3. As all his most recent albums this CD is totally instrumental however much more blues oriented than his previous studio ones. Tunes like "San-Ho-Zay", "Blues for the West Side" are solid Chicago electric "West Side" blues and "Rego Park Blues" worth by itself the price of the entire CD. The influence of great masters like Magic Sam and Otis Rush, a bit of T-Bone Walker skilfully mixed with a hint of Wes Montgomery are, from my point of view, pretty evident, however his stile remain very personal and unique in the today blues scene. A great album that should be present in any serious blues CDs collection. Five star (I would rate it six but...)

One of the Best Blues Guitar CDs
I heard one of Ronnie Earl's cuts on a web radio station. I liked it so much I took a chance on an album - came out a winner. A local ice cream shoop has three choices: "I Like It", "I Love It", and "I Gotta Have It." Blues Guitar Virtuoso is definitely "I Gotta Have It". Too, it makes great music when I work out at the Healthy Living Center. Highly recommend this if you love blues/jazz guitar.

Stands the test of time
I stumbled on this disc five years ago in Vancouver. I liked the demo enough to buy it. I'd never heard of Ronnie Earl before. I played this CD lots after I bought it. It's one of the few that you can just plug in and let it go from start to finish...Rego Park cooks! My house was broken into a couple of years ago and my CD collection was stolen along with a bunch of other stuff..The first CD I replaced was this one...Ronnie Earl and the Broadcasters can play..I'd love to see them live..this is their best CD IMO

Great recording
Earl is fast and clean and very jazzy, he has a lot of technique. Probably is alot harder to play like he does than it sounds when you listen. The CD is very well recorded. A few of the songs really wail- I mean he sounds very inspired at times. I have no regrets purchasing this disc- it fits well into my blues collection... ... Read more

Amazon.com

Trying to boil down a prolific 40-year career into 18 songs is an impossible task, but that doesn't stop Rhino from taking a shot. To its credit, this single-CD compilation reaches across many labels, highlighting Guy's explosive work for Chess and Vanguard in the 1960s, Atlantic in the 1970s, and diverse labels in the 1980s. On the other hand, his Chess and Vanguard work deserve significantly more attention than they're given here. In addition, Guy's rejuvenated 1990s work for Silvertone is completely ignored. The result is a rather cursory overview of Guy's career, despite the high quality of what is present. The benefit of this approach, however, is that it displays Guy's versatility: The Guy of feverish guitar pyrotechnics, wailing vocals, and rocker intensity lives alongside a smoother, more soulful and melodic Guy.--Marc Greilsamer ... Read more

Reviews (8)

The all around best intro cd to Buddy Guy!
There are too many great blues artists out there to spend a fortune on every artists complte recordings would cost tens of thousands of dollars, so getting comprehensive samplers of the artists earliest recordings in the best way to go. This cd have mostly the 50's & 60's sessions, his early stuff, and a bit towards the end of the cd his later works, but just a small sampling, the majority of the cd is his best work for Chess and other jump blues labels. This cd is exellent and is the difinitive sampler(though one should not overlook his duo albums with junior Wells), this cd will do a fine job of summing up Guy in his early prime and middle years. Guy has an incredibly piercing voice, similsr in texture and feeling as BB King, though less of a baritone, and his guitar solos, are creative, and even jazz and improvisation occur every so often. This cd is full of energetic performances, from shuffling jump blues to slow blues drags, it's all great stuff. Essential for any blues collection, to be complete.

Like sands thru the hourglass, so are the days of our lives
This is the life, a great cd of blues, lot's of love, peace and yeah man, his guitar is sweet soundin' with some jazz licks. As the world turns baby...

****1/2
This is a very credible attempt to summarize Buddy Guy's entire (pre-Silvertone) career on a single disc.
"The Very Best Of Buddy Guy" encompasses Guy's 1957 demo "The Way You Been Treating Me," a couple of Cobra sides, four of his hottest Chess sides, a few recordings for Vanguard and Atlantic, and three from Buddy Guy's days with the British JSP label.

Four Chess sides isn't really enough, but the compilers have done a fine job considering they only had 80 minutes of disc space to work with (the CD clocks in at approximately 75 minutes), and many songs, such as "First Time I Met The Blues", "Sit and Cry (The Blues)", and "My Time After Awhile", do rank among Guy's very best songs, showcasing his powerful, intense vocals and smouldering guitar playing.
A very good introduction to the reigning king of Chicago blues.

a must have
Buddy Guy is one of the baddest ever.he lays something on those strings.this set is a great introduction to this Genius.he really is something else Live.hearing his Rawness here is a must for any Lover of Guitar based music.what a Great Musician!check this out.

This is where it all started folks!
A wonderful collection from possibly one of the best guitarists there has ever been. Alot of older stuff, so the quality on CD is a bit less than sharp. But, that is what it was back then! A must have. This man should be on the finger tips of every blues guitarist... ... Read more

Amazon.com

This 16-track anthology spans the first decade of albino Texas blues guitarist Johnny Winter's career, especially the early (1969-'73) Columbia albums that built his legend. While some purists have groused at his often manic precision, this collection makes a point of underscoring his impressive range as a musician. The fervent gospel-blues of "I'll Drown in My Tears" showcases Winter's vocal stylings (and is one of several tracks featuring brother and frequent sideman Edgar), then segues neatly into the spare, acoustic heat of the dobro-'n'-flute rarity "Come On in My Kitchen." But the emphasis is on Winter's showy rock star turns and the collaborations with his potent band (and fellow axeman Rick Derringer and his cohorts from the McCoys, of "Hang on Sloopy" fame) on "Rock and Roll Hoochie Koo," "Still Alive and Well," and forceful live workouts of "It's My Own Fault" and "Mean Town Blues." His original, late-'60s power trio is on display here, too, and that small, formidable outfit can't help but emphasize the debt that Stevie Ray Vaughan and many of his musical progeny owe Winter. Indeed, Winters's bassist in the trio was none other than Tommy Shannon, who would enjoy another turn in the spotlight a decade later in Vaughan's Double Trouble. If American electric blues is your gospel, this collection should be one of its cornerstones of faith. --Jerry McCulley ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Great starter CD
This is a great CD to get you going into the world of Johnny Winter.

I'm not too thrilled about the Rick Derringer tune but a little bit of everything is covered here. From the rocking 'Johnny B. Goode' to the slide playing on 'Highway 61 Revisited' to the shredding on 'Hustled Down In Texas' to the melodic blues of 'It's My Own Fault', this is a great buy.

Best of Johnny Winter
This is a nice CD that covers the early years of Johnny's career. His range in many aspects is one of a kind. Its nice to feel the music rather than just listen to the music. For all you young rock and blues fans take notice, Johnny truly is an American guitar legend. Go out and get this one now!

Best of
An excellent introduction to the early years of Johnny Winter. It shows the scope of this often overlooked musician. A true american genius. "Johnny B. Goode" a ripping version that Chuck Berry would be proud of!!! And he plays it in the key of "B". "Come on in my kitchen" is a beautiful slide piece. And the best tune, in my opinion, "It's my own fault", shows off his vocal range and phrasing and a million guitar licks that every guitar player should know. Awesome and inspiring.

A GREAT CD BUT A BOXSET WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER
The songs on this cd are great & sound great. I would recommend this to any Winter fan new & old. Most of the songs came from the first two recordings Johnny did for Columbia. My complaint is that there is alot missing here. There is no way you can release a BEST OF from this guitar god on only 1 disc. This disc should have been joined by a disc 2, 3 & 4 with a nice booklet & put in a box. But for now, this will do just fine. BUT IT!!! It's killer tunes from the master of blues/rock. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Big Fun
The CD is 10 tracks culled from various Rounder Records artists CDs. I bought this to make my $25 minimum shipping but didn't expect much from a cheapie. When I put on the first track, I hooted out loud at how delightful the opening riffs were. The rest of the tracks were just as good. Consider getting this along with Gallerie "Portrait of Boogie Woogie Piano" for a complete and very fun collection of the form for just over the minimum shipping.

excellent modern boogie woogie selection
If you're looking for a more recent selection of boogie woogie selections, this is your disc. All the tracks are upbeat and jumping. It just makes you want to get up and move. ... Read more

Amazon.com

This pairing of seemingly disparate guitar stylists remains one of the most sustained and successful musical partnerships in modern blues. Joe Kubek's aggressive approach is proudly rooted in the Freddie King tradition and that's not too surprising since the late King was an early employer. Bnois King's jazz-inflected guitar lines spice up the proceedings, effectively serving as the steak sauce for Kubek's hearty cuts of beef. The dozen original songs, including the guitar showcase "Armadillo Blues," provide graphic and uniformly entertaining evidence of the duo's potential. Kubek expands the sound a bit by adding acoustic and slide guitar, but it's the enlightened interplay with King that makes the music work. Kubek also plays Hammond B-3 organ on "Let's Stop Pretending" while Anson Funderburgh adds some guitar on "Invitation Only." King's soulful vocals, reminiscent at times of Boz Scaggs's cool groove, serve to unify and elevate the impressive instrumental achievements of both guitarists. There are very few live blues bands as consistently cohesive as the Kubek/King alliance, and Show Me the Money simply, and successfully, relocates its onstage excellence to the recording studio. --Michael Point ... Read more

Amazon.com

On Healing Time, the line Ronnie Earl blurs between jazz and blues gets even blurrier than on his 1997 record, The Colour Of Love. An all-instrumental record of deep passion and virtuosity, Time features song structures that are loose and laden with thoughtful riffs and solid work from Earl and his players, recalling Carlos Santana's fiery licks and the jazz guitar textures of Wes Montgomery. Their attention to each song's changes and transitions makes for vivid textures and wide-ranging moods, while varying the instrumental focal points of each allows the musicians to reveal the songs' emotional cores. Jumping out of the gate with "Churchin'," the record is given a gospel tinge by Jimmy McGriff's Hammond B-3 that pops up again later on "Blues on a Sunday."Throughout, on songs like "Thembi," with its piano-based breeziness, and "Idle Moments," with Earl's mournful guitar work, it's clear that Earl and his band have worked hard to provide these songs with whatever touch of instrumentation or genre-bending they might need to sound complete. By letting his insightful musicality guide him, and allowing each song to blossom with individuality, Earl creates an endlessly fascinating record that fairly brims with the light of inspiration. --Matthew Cooke ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Something for everyone
Not being much of a blues man, I had never heard of Ronnie Earl. This album has quickly become one of my favorites. It is a soulful mix of blues, jazz and rock that anyone will enjoy. The album comes at you hard with the first track "Churchin" and then soulfully but not boringly mellows out. Earl's work on the slower tracks is absolutely searing in intensity. I love this one!

Soaring new work from a master axman
I had the pleasure of seeing Ronnie Earl play here on his Boston area home turf last Spring. It was a revelation..especially for someone who remembers his old "Roomful of Blues" days. This album captures his current direction well. It's not the blues as the old-guard would play it; it's something else entirely, a soaring display of technical skill and musical talent that is quite rare indeed. Great music.

Excellent
This is one of Ronnie Earl's very best works.Soulful and captivating,with a wonderful complement of extras, this album should surely please anytype of musical taste.

Reflection Time.
Rumours abound that Ronnie Earl is retiring.Apparently, the many yearsof touring and the demands placed upon him to produce as many CD's aspossible have taken its toll on this great musician.

Fulfilling his priorcontractual obligation he has now signed on with Telarc with the apparentunderstanding that his touring will be greatly minimalized.The title ofthis CD is, therefore, appropriately titled as Ronnie enters a period ofreflection or healing.

The music is, for the most part, soothing,somewhat spiritual, soul searching and smooth jazz flavored, revealing amuch more relaxed Earl.Adding to the church like overtones is JimmyMcGriff and his patented B3 on two numbers and the organ like keyboards ofAnthony Geraci.

Earl does his usual exceptional job on this disc and theinterplay between Earl's guitar and the keyboards is outstanding. Beingan old Earl fan, my two favorites are Catfish Blues and Lunch at R&M's. Both break the Jazz mold and hint at the type of blues Earl performed inthe past and hopefully will play again on future CD's.

SUPERIOR GUITARIST AT HIS BEST
I PURCHASED RONNIE EARL'S LATEST RELEASE WITH GREAT ENTHUSIASM AS I CONSIDER HIM TO BE ONE OF THE MOST TALENTED BLUES GUITARIST'S PERFORMINGTODAY. NEEDLESS TO SAYI HAVE BEEN LISTENING TO HIS MUSIC FOR MORE THAN ADECADE. I COUNTED MY RONNIE EARL CD'S AND HAVE 14. RONNIE HAS GOTTENJAZZIER/MELLOWER ON THIS RELEASE BUT HIS KNOWLEDGE OF HIS INSTRUMENT ANDHIS PLAYING TECHNIQUE INDICATE THAT HERE IS A MAN DEDICATED TO HIS CRAFT. IHAVE OTHER FAVORITE RECORDINGS BY RONNIE EARL AND THISWILL BECOME ANOTHERONE. I HAVE NEVER GOTTEN GOOSE BUMPS WHILE LISTENING TO A GUITAR SOLO BUTON THIS RECORDING THE ELOQUENCE OF RONNIE'S GUITAR ON "SONG FOR ABROTHER", "THEMBI", "CHURCHIN" TOUCH MY SOUL ASONLY RONNIE IS CAPABLE OF. THERE REALLY IS NOT A BAD TRACK ON THIS CD. ITTAKES YOU THROUGH VARIOUS MOODS AND KEEPS YOU WANTING MORE. IF YOU WANT TOREALLY ENJOY AN ARTIST AT HIS BEST AND EXCEPTIONAL GUITAR PLAYING, THIS ISFOR YOU."HEALING TIME"( YES, IT WORKED FOR ME). ... Read more

Amazon.com

Most live blues recordings have a feeling of intimacy, as if the concerts took place in some out-of-the-way venue for an audience who not only know all the lyrics, but know the performers personally as well. Live Alive, in contrast, feels like a large-scale rock concert, an epic production full of grand gestures. But really, nothing suited Stevie Ray Vaughan's style better; everything, from the overall sound to the solos, feels big. The roar of the audience, especially for favorites like "Pride and Joy," "Cold Shot," and "Texas Flood," is huge but distant, an arena sound. Overall, Live Alive leaves the impression of a series of stellar moments caught on tape, with an intensity rarely captured in the recording studio. --Genevieve Williams ... Read more

Reviews (25)

Superb
The late Stevie Ray Vaughan rocked on stage. His rendition of Howlin' Wolf's "Commit A Crime" may lack the raw punch of the original, but that's a minor complaint - most of this album is simply excellent, filled with gems from Vaughan's first three albums.

Vaughan's guitar playing is masterful, with more grit than most of his studio orginals. His vocals are good, too, and the song list is magnificent, featuring the rare, non-LP track "Willie the Wimp" about the bizarre 1984 funeral of a Chicago "wiseguy".

Other highlights include Vaughan's best song, the superbly groovy "Pride And Joy", as well as "Look At Little Sister", "Cold Shot", "Love Struck Baby" and the slow blues "Texas Flood" and "Ain't Gone 'N' Give Up On Love", but there are really no weak songs, and this album should appeal to fans of both blues and rock music.
The sound is good, and the band is excellent. Several songs actually sound better in this live setting than on the original studio albums, partly because of the blistering blues-rock arrangements which include keyboards (piano and organ).

(Some people seem to think that Vaughan's playing wasn't up to his usual standarts when this album was recorded, that he must have been having a bad night or something. I can't make any sense of that claim, especially since "Live Alive" wasn't recorded during just one show, but actually incorporates cuts from different concerts in both 1985 and 1986. He must have been having some bad years, then.)

This is a very enjoyable, soulful live album, and it is highly recommendable to anyone with an interest in Stevie Ray Vaughan, or contemporary blues and blues-rock in general.

****1/2
The late Stevie Ray Vaughan rocked on stage. His rendition of Howlin' Wolf's "Commit A Crime" may lack the raw punch of Wolf's original, but that's a minor complaint...most of this album is simply excellent, filled with gems from Vaughan's first three albums.

Stevie Ray's muscular and versatile guitar playing is sublime, with more grit than most of his studio orginals. His vocals are good, too, and the song list is magnificent, featuring the rare, non-LP track "Willie the Wimp" about the bizarre 1984 funeral of a Chicago "wiseguy".

Other highlights include Vaughan's best song, the superbly groovy "Pride And Joy", as well as "Look At Little Sister", "Cold Shot", "Love Struck Baby" and the slow blues "Texas Flood" and "Ain't Gone 'N' Give Up On Love", but there are really no weak songs, and this album should appeal to fans of both blues and rock music.
The sound is good, although not always crystal clear, and the band is excellent. Several songs actually sound better in this live setting than on the original studio albums, partly because of the blistering blues-rock arrangements which include keyboards (piano and organ).

Apparently some people feel that Vaughan's playing wasn't up to his usual standarts when this album was recorded, that he must have been having a bad night or something. I've heard a lot of live SRV, and I can't make any sense of that claim, especially since "Live Alive" wasn't recorded during just one show, but actually incorporates cuts from different concerts in both 1985 and 1986. (He must have been having some bad years, then.)

This is a very enjoyable, soulful live album, and it is highly recommendable to anyone with an interest in Stevie Ray Vaughan, or contemporary blues and blues-rock in general.

Don't buy the cd, get the tape or record!
This is a great album the way it is, but without the 14th track (Life Without You), it's only half as good. For some reason, this track is not on the cd version, but appears on the cassette and vinyl version. It may take some hunting, but it is certainly worth it. Stevie may be stoned out of his mind, but the live version of Life Without You, with the three minute recitation at the end, is a beautiful, touching moment. Besides that, live Stevie Ray is always amazing. Highlights on this are "Pride and Joy", "Ain't Gone 'n' Given up on Love", "Cold Shot"(Check out the guitar tone on this one), "Texas Flood", "Voodoo Chile" and "Change It". Still, GET THE TAPE OR RECORD. You won't be dissapointed.

Heard only a few songs
This album is one of the only live albums that I don't have. I have heard samples, and a few extra songs on other cds though. The first thing I hear from somebody that tell about this album is basically that Stevie couldn't have been more high. His performance was just imbarrassing for the other members in the group (specifically Reese Wynans). Most poeple don't know this but, on the old vinyl copy of this album, (I've never heard it but someone told me) there was originally a 14th track. It was the song that usually comes close to the end of Stevie's sets. The song was Life Without You. Since it was the very last song, I'm guessing Stevie was more pooped than ever beacause it was the last song and that he was extremely high and everything. Being high is one thing, but being high and playing your last song in a set is terrible. In the old vinyl disc, Stevie was on his last song and he was so terribly slow that Reese Wynans walked off stage embarrased and discusted. This track was taken off the album because of its discracefulness.

SRV LIVE ALIVE
Stevie Ray Vaughan did not always play his best its one of those things that guitarist go through even Jimi Hendrix had a bad concert. This concert would prob have to be one of Stevie Ray's worst concerts. I am a huge SRV fan and I have about all of his stuff my favorite DVD is Live At Elbocambo this DVD SRV plays his heart out. Also on this CD they include the piano player who toured with SRV around the time of this concert and the Austin City Limits. There still is great guitar playing sounds good for what it is. Some cool songs are Pride And Joy, Cold Shot, Willie The Wimp, Voodoo Chile(Slight Return), Texas Flood, and Love Struck Baby. I was disapointed SRV did not play Lenny but it most have been one of those days I gave this CD 5 stars. If you love SRV then try this one out see how you like it listen to the samples. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Why settle for one great female vocalist when you can get three, especially when they're stylish soul diva Irma Thomas, Tracy "Mother Earth" Nelson, and swamp rocker (and roller) Marcia Ball. The talented trio take the Sing It! title seriously, belting all hues of blues with satisfying sass and sincerity. Backed by a fine and funky band of Memphis-soul stalwarts and New Orleans session stars, the ladies shine both individually and as a team. Thomas, the longtime "Soul Queen of New Orleans," struts her stuff on the Bobby "Blue" Bland classic "Yield Not to Temptation," while Ball puts some patented bayou boogie, powered by her slinky piano lines, into her spotlight songs. Nelson repeatedly stops the show with her enormous, wraparound voice, transforming tunes like "In Tears" from simple country-flavored ballads into cathartic emotional experiences. But it's the combined voices that makes the session so special, and the title track, a soulfully scintillating second-line anthem, is the most enjoyable example of the vocal virtuosity of these women. It's a quintessential New Orleans celebration of singing, well worth the purchase price by itself, and it, like the entire album, also serves as an excellent sampler of the multiple talents of the superb song stylists involved. --Michael Point ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Lovely songs, don't miss them!
This was the first CD that I can hear these three great musicians. However, I love it so much and go to bed with this CD almost everyday. Whenever I hear this CD, I always find a passion. If you are a person who hides the passion of love deep in your heart, Dont miss it!

this cd will give you goos bumps
Anything with Tracy Nelson on it is bound to be great and this collaboration with two other wonderful singers is as good as it gets. The funky Memphis sounds are a perfect vehicle for these three strong female voices and to hear Tracy and Marcia Ball wail with Irma Thomas, one of their mentors, is a treat. This CD should be a best seller. All the love and pain these women have shared comes through on every note. check it out. they deserve to be heard.

Good Music, good singing
It's not often you listen to a cd and it's all good. This is a very good collection of songs, sung by three very good singers. I would recomend this cd to a Martian that just landed on earth and wanted to know what "SOUL" music and good singing was. Get this one, you'll be glad you did, it's the best.

These gals are the stuff.
I actually heard these ladies first on Austin City Limits and decided that I needed the CD. Friends take one listen to this CD and fall in love with it just as I did. They like it so much that I am eager to let them take it home. I have bought FOUR copies and sent TWO as gifts. And I don't even have a copy for my own right now. My female friends have shared with me that this CD is highly suitable for listening while taking a candle-lite bath to soak away those "man-trouble" blues and also while trying to shake the road-rage syndrome on the ride home from work (of which I agree). BUY IT. And share it with a friend.

Tracy and Irma great combo.
This was the first I have ever heard of any of these ladies. Tracy and Irma stand out and You don't know nothin'about love, is the most powerful piece on the cd. Tracy is heard all over this cd with power force and beauty. I enjoy her thoroughly and will look for some of her solo stuff in the future. She crosses between gospel and blues with authority and passion. The highlight of this cd is the last song You don't know nothin' about love Great song ... Read more

Album Description

Never before released in America, the power and purity ofWalter Trout's music is captured on this 10-song blast from the past recorded in 1989. Includes live and studiorecordings. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Trout's Best CD!!
I have just about all of Trout's CD's, and they're all at least good, some very good, but this one from 1989 is the best, hands down. "Red House" is a spectacular shred-fest (I think Jimi would have liked it), and his tunes are catchy and well-written. His singing is superior on this album than on his more recent releases, in my opinion--he sounds like he's opening his throat more here, especially on the title track. The sound quality isn't quite as good as his more recent stuff, understandably, since recording methods have drastically improved over the last 15 years, but it's still good quality sound overall--not nearly as bad as on his crappy sounding "Telling Stories" CD--that one badly needs to be remixed.

If you're new to Walter Trout, this is an excellent choice for starting your collection!

John Mayall's version is best
Walter Trout is a great blues guitarist and this album is good. The story is that John Mayall fell ill on tour and the band filled in with out him and the Walter Trout band was formed. Walter has gone on to greater albums than this but my personal favourite is still the original John Mayall 'Life in the Jungle' which also features Coco Montoya.

Exciting Guitar
I first heard a piece of "Red House" while on vacation in Holland in 1991. I finally found out that it was the "Walter Trout Band" and I now have every cd he has out there. This guy really loves his guitar and he'll make you love it too. Crisp clean rock blues. Great stuff!

My First Trout CD
I bought this CD in London in 1992 after hearing Walter on a John Mayall compilation. I have since bought all Walter's CD's. This is one of the best CD's in my whole collection and the range of music (although predominantly Blues-rock) really shows the brilliance of Walter's guitar work and singing. Listen to tracks 6, 9 and 10 and if you are not impressed, you are hard to please. The USA has missed-out on what the rest us have enjoyed for years. Just buy it! GPM

great, despite the critics
I know the critics might find fault with the new cd by Walter Trout, but what do they know. From a blues listener's point of view, this is a pretty great cd. The "live" tracks, including, Red House and Serve(s) Me Right To Suffer, are outstanding tracks and show Trout's ability to cover the "classics". His own title track is also a blistering blue number. Buy it, ignore the critics. I might also suggest the rest of the Trout catalog(ue).
He "jams". ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Good but not his best
Walter Trout is one of the best however this album is not. There are a mixture of superb and some so so tracks. My belief is that it is mostly a choice of songs that is the problem. Walter is a fine guitarist with a fairly good voice as illustrated by 'Got a broken heart', 'Obstacles', 'Hard time blues' and others but there are also many tracks which pale in significance such as "Marie's Mood" or "In love with you again" which are something out of a 50's pop album rather than a blues based offering. My personal favourite Walter Trout CD is the John Mayall "Life in the Jungle" live album.

A Little Bit of Everything
This CD has it all.Power emotion and spine tingling guitar playing of the highest order.Walter Trout is an awesome songwriter and this CD shows it with a fantastic range of Blues styles.Hard heavy or light Walter Trout delivers the goods on this album. I saw Walter at the Marquee Club in London in 1991 and have been a Trouthead ever since.Live he is unbelieveable and has probably embarrassed many a name guitar player.Any Walter Trout CD is great but if I may recommend one other, Life in the Jungle is a must, especially for the title track and the live versions of Red House and Serves Me Right to Suffer.You'll be speechless!

Great, Hot, Slick, Fire, Play that guitar and sing the blues
When I put the cd in my cd player the house is rocking and windows are breaking.
Keep it up and play like lighting.

It's really worth 6 stars
Thanks Walter & Band for your driving passion. It shows and the reviews tell the whole story. This is one CD that has never left my truck in 2 years...cuz I really dig my car audio. Keep up the great work!

My Soul What an Album
Guitar: The instument of choice. Chrome: The metal of choice. Asphalt: The surface of choice. Leather: The texture of choice. H-D: The Ride of choice. Growl: The voice of choice. Greasy: The emotion of choice. Walter Trout: The choice of choice.

Across the badlands of the continent of music comes an undiscovered new dog into the yard. His name is Walter Trout. All you young'uns had better get back up on the porch. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Once upon a time (circa 1998), the daughter of a blues legend burst onto the scene with her own potentially legendary debut, Turn the Heat Up. I say "potentially" because, although all the necessary ingredients were there, they didn't quite represent the best of what Shemekia Copeland is obviously capable of. A few more years to hone her voice and allow it to reach its natural maturity, and Copeland could produce an album that would challenge some of the reigning royalty of the blues. Wicked is not that album. It is, however, a stunningly good piece of work, with solid songs (Copeland's contributing more to the songwriting, too), a greater variety of styles, and some serious genre-bending that will turn the heads of those used to the more straight-ahead blues of Copeland's last effort. The album even opens with a rocker, "It's 2 a.m.," and Copeland pokes fun at all those pseudo-R&B true-love ballads littering the airwaves lately with her own "The Fool You're Looking For." The fact that Wicked still represents more potential than realization is actually quite refreshing, too. It gives her growing legions of fans something to look forward to, as we realize that the best is still yet to come. --Genevieve Williams ... Read more

Reviews (19)

Take A Chance
I'm not normally a Blues Fan, but I took a chance and bought this CD. WOW. Shemekia blew me away, her powerful voice, expressive arrangements were amazing. I have a few CD's that I would say are in my permanent collection and her's is now in that rank. This is only her second CD and I happily look forward to many others. If you are not a big Blues fan, take a chance with this CD and you just might become one.

The explosion continued!!!!
This second cd from Shemekia is another masterpiece!Her voice is one of the best things that happened to the blues scenery in years!!!What powerfull!What sensual tune!!! We must recognize the great work of Bruce Iglauer specially at the production of recents cds like this one.The cover design is absolutely fantastic! The picture inside,of Shemekia's style in front of a microphone ,is all of her fans needed!!!! A primorous work full of intense moments,for romantic bluesfans!! I only expect for an opportunity to see Shemekia's performance at brazilian stages!! Thanks Shemekia for this another jewel!!!

Masterpiece
This one is a masterpiece. She's a very merry girl, and when I hear her, I wanna jump, and I feel very well ! Her music is very merry, and I don't know any singer, who is as merry as Shemekia Copeland. She plays some good rock-blues. And I really like such rock-blues. The guitarist plays very well. No critisizm to the guitar, this time. The drums are also fine. And the singer is just wonderful !!! If this album wouldn't be released, I still wouldn't know what " rock-blues " means. My favorite songs from this albums are Wild, Wild Woman, Miss Hy Cidity, It's 2 A.M., And The Other Woman. Those four songs are definetly worth five stars. I really really recommend to try this album.

Just plain awesome!
I bought this album for my husband after hearing Shamekia Copeland interviewed on NPR. We did a recent road trip and it was the only CD I wanted to listen to. Her voice is amazing and songs vary from soulful to just plain fun! A must to own.

Fabulous Voice but...
I had the distict pleasure of seeing Shemikia live at the House of Blues. She has a fabulous voice and a tremendous stage presence. While I enjoy this album very much I can only give it three stars because the songs are simply too similar. While Shemikia's voice is amazing on every song I find that I can only make it through 2 or 3 most times before they all sound the same and I move on to something else.

That said she definately has awesome potential and I hope she gets the chance to spread her wings a little. ... Read more

Amazon.com

No musician ever applied a gentler touch to songs of murder, sex, andsalvation than MississippiJohn Hurt. The country bluesman enjoyed a career revival through the folkfestival boom of the early 1960s, and his influence continues to ripple, as thisvaried and vital tribute attests. Produced byPeter Case (who teamswith Dave Alvin on"Monday Morning Blues"), the album's renewal of classic Hurt extends from thedeadpan double entendres of "Candy Man" delivered bySteve Earle and sonJustin to Taj Mahal'strademark lilt on "My Creole Belle" to a surprisingly straightforward "Stagolee"by Beck. Amid a roster ofluminaries ranging from fingerpicking acolytesChris Smither andBill Morrissey toBen Harper,John Hiatt,Lucinda Williams, andGillian Welch, the mostradically disarming interpretation comes fromVictoria Williams. Herbreathless "Since I've Laid My Burden Down" sounds like a preschooler on helium,yet somehow taps into the subconscious of the song. --Don McLeese ... Read more

Reviews (16)

Incredible bargain for under $3
As I write this, new copies of this wonderful album are available for less than $3 (through recommended Amazon sellers - check the 'new and used' link). That, my friends, is an exceptional bargain! I paid about $20 (including postage and handling) for this album around 18 months ago and considered it great value for money at the time, since every track (even the much maligned Victoria Williams cover of 'Since I Laid My Burden Down') is at least listenable, if not a veritable aural treat.

If you're a fan of the late Mississippi John Hurt (like myself), you'll find the contributions by Ben Harper and John Hiatt to be most reminiscent of his original recordings. Although these two modern artists come closest in replicating Hurt's distinctive finger-picking style, neither can match the deceptively subtle ease of his guitar playing. This is not to suggest that their versions are any less enjoyable, only that no one on this album can quite match the brilliance of Hurt.

From my perspective, only one track on this album - Gillian Welch's version of 'Beulah Land' - actually surpasses the original. Although the guitar playing is much more subdued on this track, the haunting echoes of Welch's vocals will send shivers down your spine. This track alone makes this $3 album a bargain, but it offers so much more than that. Even if you can't stand the Victoria William's track (it's not that bad, people), this great album is packed with 14 other songs which are hard to skip past. How many other albums for under $3 can you say that about?

Well worth the effort
This tribute to Mississippi John Hurt is one that I keep gravitating back to and giving "nuther listen to". The artists (save perhaps one) are impressive in their interpretation of John's wonderful witty and humorous music. Those last two qualities seem to be the only thing that they just couldn't copy that Mr Hurt seasoned his works with so naturally. My ear always "trips over" Victoria Williams "Since I've Laid My Burden Down". Her performance is done in a style that is more suited to the Bulgarian Womens Choir. I loved the Taj Mahal performance of "My Creole Belle" and Geoff Muldaurs "Chicken".

tepid tap water
A lot of tribute albums trade on the popularity and fame of the "tributee" and fall into the mixed-bag when it comes to quality. This is truly no exception. There are some decent covers that are pleasant enough to listen to in the same way that luke-warm tap water might quench your thirst, but come on...you're interested in John Hurt, listen to his albums. The best song on here doesn't even touch his level of spontaneous genius. I mean its not even in the same room. Hurt himself has an otherworldly, almost angelic quality. Hurt didn't know theory. Hurt picked out a $200 guitar when they told him he could have any one in the place. These are just a bunch of halfway decent, semi-gifted, "folkies" who have wood shedded long enough that their chops aren't half bad. If this was all you heard, you'd dismiss the man himself in a heartbeat like "so what, these are simple, almost childish folk songs...no big deal". Get his Last Sessions album first, and then this if you still want to. Life is too short to listen to mediocre music.

Better than the original
...I hadn't heard of John Hurt before. This CD is now one of my absolute favorites. "Chicken" and "Since I've laid my burdon down" will stay with you for days and you'll be replaying the CD several times so that you can get the lyrics right when you're singing them in your head later. "Sliding Delta" is another laid back personal favorite.
Every song on this album is good. Since all of the performers have trained voices, the singing shows off Hurt's songs like he could not. (Nobody trys to beat his up-and-down melodic guitar however. For this you've got to buy the original.) I also liked the variety that different performers bring to the CD as a whole. Hurt's songs could sound a little too similar with his raspy half-whisper voice after a while.
Mississippi John Hurt is an original, but I truly like this CD better than his Avalon Blues originals or his Complete Studio Recodings.

a worthy tribute
Hurt was a unique bluesman - funny, laid-back, and unassuming. There would be no value in merely imitating him. But at a time when many tribute albums are filled with third-rate performers parasitizing first-rate songwriters, it is a delight to find a tribute that justifies the word. Each artist tranforms a MJH song to fit his/her own style, and the results are memorable, and often outstanding. I especially liked Gillian Welch's spooky version of Beulah Land, but the entire CD is good (how often can you say that). If you like any of these artists, you will probably love this album. Highly recommended. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Singer-trumpeter-guitarist Olu Dara has been knocking around New York City's jazz circles for almost 20 years. On "In the World" he embraces Caribbean rhythms, African highlife/socca riffs, and gut-bucket blues. Vaguely reminiscent of Taj Mahal's fanciful integration of world music and the blues, Dara consistently straddles urban and rural artistry. Sophisticated yet irresistibly down-home, this collection is festive, tuneful, and engaging. Songs like "Rain Shower" and "Natchez Shopping Blues" are clearly based in the American folk-blues idiom, while "Okra" and "Your Lips" are closer to an Afro-Cuban aesthetic. Dara's warm voice is limited but expressive, and his guitar playing fundamentally percussive. On the other hand, Dara's trumpet is unique and extremely lucid. This album comprises a fascinating tour of several musical cultures. --Mitch Myers ... Read more

Reviews (16)

A great eclectic album from a talented and personal musician
This is Olu Dara's first CD, recorded decades after his reputation as one of the Blues's underground greats was well established. In this work, a lifetime acheivement for Dara, all his roots, from Blues to Jazz to African Tribal to spoken poetry, shine through in a subtle yet breathtaking performance.

The album improves with each listening, so don't expect a collection of raucus pop hits. At times he is mellow and almost subversive, as in Young Mama or Rain Shower. Other times he can be raw and personal, in Father Blues and Natchez Shopping Blues. And his crowd-pleasing, likable songs, like Okra and Your Lips, have shades of meaning that only fully develop after many listenings. This is the kind of album you can grow up with and grow old with. A classic.

My favorite Jazz album after Kind Of Blue.
Olu Dara is one of the greatest musicians out there right now. He is painfully underrated. Every single track on this album is perfect, from the street tales of "Jungle Jay"(featuring Olu's son, rapper Nas), to the funky blues of "Rain Shower". My favorite track on this album, though, is "Harlem Country Girl". On this song, Olu plays beautiful trumpet and sings well. Other great tracks include "Okra", "Natchez Shopping Blues", "Your Lips", "Zora", "Father Blues", and all the other tracks. They are all amazing tracks, and I can't wait for more Olu Dara music.

A classic
The firt time I heard Olu Dara was at a concert at Yoshi's in Oakland, Ca, from that day on, I felt in love with his music, this cd is just a classic, I listen to it at least once a day. My favorite song is Harlem Country Girl...great to listen with lights off and a glass of wine....

Awesome CD
I bought four new CDs today and this is the only one worth while. Every song on this track is great.

like father like son
Im fairly young, so I grew up listening to Nas(olu Dara's son). But, out of curiosity, I bought Olu Dara's album. It was really great. I loved the mood or each song. My favorite song of course is the collaboration with Olu Dara and his son. Listening to this album I see where Nas got all of his musical skills from. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Fourth in the family of Celtic Twilight recordings, Celtic Planet is an ambitious, charming, and at times surprising collection of Celtic-inspired music from around the globe. Spain's Celtic-cultured Galician region is represented by the band Fia Na Roca's pipe on "Ou Sube a Terra ou Baixa O Ceo" and by flautist Carlos Nunez's "Two Shores," quite effectively combining Ry Cooder's flavorful guitar playing with soaring flute melody and accordion. Indian singer Sheila Chandra's "Lament of McCrimmon" from Roots and Wings is based on her mastery of drone tones, and "White Wings," an elegant emotive piece utilizing a string quartet and bass recorder is contributed by Norwegian composer Oystein Sevag. Vocalist Kate Power and vocal ensemble Anuna offer more traditional Celtic balladry, and whistler Joanie Madden leads a group including noted accordionist John Whelan in an arrangement of "The Immigrant." Roundly refreshing, Celtic Planet is sure to be enjoyed by those familiar and new to the series. --Paige La Grone ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Nice Music
This is a nice collection of relaxing celtic music. Ones to especially listen to are "THe Drowning Plains" and the one by Aiofe.

The best of the Celtic Twilight series, truly beautiful
I use this deeply touching music as easily to add a peaceful, misty background to my activities as to provide a focus for meditation. It is also one of my favorites for use with my Healing Touch work The selection of songs and mix of artists from different cultural backgrounds is very well done; each piece is uniquely beautiful, evocative of something different, from lingering sunsets over quiet lakes to the mysteries of walking through a heavy, enfolding fog between the hills to the welcome flicker of friendly fires at night. A very worthwhile addition to your music library.

Celtic Twilight Series the greatest
I have purchased all 5 of the celtic twilight series and each one is a 5star for me. This one is as good as all the rest. Soothing and relaxing. Very enjoyable music.

A Lovely "Lament"
I heard "Lament of McCrimmon" on Live365.com and traced its source to this album. If the rest is as good as this, I will definitely buy it. It has real "tooth' unlike alot of "spacey" Celtic music.

Celtic taken to a brighter level
I was introduced to Celtic quite some time ago. This CD has incredible selections. I loved everyone of them. They are calm, soothing, and very relaxing. (track 13 is my favorite accompanied with bag pipes) This is definitely something a Celtic Music lover NEEDS to own. (don't' forget about the first 3) ... Read more

Album Description

Latest CD from blues guitarist Walter Trout. Recorded inMemphis in February and March 2001. Produced by Jim Gaines. 13 tracks. ... Read more

Reviews (19)

Best To Date
If you are reading this, chances are you are familiar with Walter Trout's music and are curious as to how this CD stacks up to his earlier releases. Quite simply, this is Trouts best solo effort to date. It's classic blues done in Trout's own tried and true ways. There are no real surprises here, just quality blues guitar and an excellent supporting cast on all tracks. All songs are up tempo and each moves from track to track rather seamlessly. Trout's trademark licks can especially be heard on "Ride 'Till I'm Satisfied" (fast licks) and "Go The Distance" (slow licks). The highlight of the CD may well be "Gotta Leave This Town" which has some fantastic playing throughout. If you're a Trout fan, you will will want to order this right away. If you're not a Trout fan, give it a listen to see what you've been missin'

Go the Distance... an Ride 'Till your Satisfied
Singer-guitarist Walter Trout plays a mean blues-rock guitar in what is now a grand ole tradition in the style of Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Gary Moore and the Allman Brothers (ultimately traced back to B.B. King, Albert King and Albert Collins and many other greats). He has a powerful yet smooth voice that in classic blues style trades off with guitar runs. The album is blues based, straying into rock and even a couple acoustic numbers.

I read others reviews in this section that was critical of him for being unoriginal and mere technician. It is one thing to master the technique of blues runs but quite another thing to evoke the soul and feelings of the blues. Ultimately, the listener decides and I want to tell you that what he does works for me! I can't listen to this album without getting involved. Whether it' splaying air- guitar along with the CD (dangerous in traffic) or finding myself swept away and in a great mood with a smile on my face. Mr. Trout knows what the blues are all about.

It's true that what he plays are very traditional blues- rock licks but damn he plays them so well! Someone should point out that many artist such as the Beatles, Clapton, Jimi Page, Van Halen start out imitating people that they admire, mastering the techniques and learning how to make it all work to temporarily take us of out of ourselves. These artists then go on to work out a distinctive style as they evolve. I hear in Walter Trout the same raw talent. I can't wait to hear where he going to take it'..I'm definitely going to "go the distance" with him.

This is a kick-butt album with a lot of spirited energy and I'm going "to ride till I'm satisfied"'to paraphrase another one of his songs.

i love it
powerful blues band. walter's guitar play reminds me alot of kenny wayne shepherd. no, he is not srv as one other reviewer stated, but he is walter trout and one of the finest guitarist alive. a must have cd

WOW "Incredible" stuff
Listen...Go out and buy this CD. Why did it take me so long to find this guy and his music? I don't care about any technical crap. This music is incredible. You will not be disappointed with this CD. I happen to disagree with another reviewer who stated all the songs sound alike. In my opinion that couldn't be farther from the truth. Walter brings in keyboards and the sax, but always lurking in the background is that oh so powerful guitar. So many good songs to choose from, but when I've finished listening to the CD, it seems that the lyrics from Lookin'for the promised land stick in my head. The production on that song (background vocals etc.) is powerful stuff. One last time... BUY THIS CD!

Absolutely BLISTERING blues guitar!!!
It is hard, VERY hard, to listen to this music without being completely and utterly blown away by th